Milo- First six months on the blue planet

I don't know when exactly Milo was born but we are estimating that it was the end of December/ beginning of January this year. His mother had back to back litters in a hole under the farm workshop. I heard that the kittens from the litter before Milo's had suffered cruel fate which I won't go into. It seems that fate literally dropped him into our laps- how strange that we happened to be driving on the same road at the exact same time Milo's mother was carrying him across. We had actually meant to be home earlier that day but were delayed for some reason I can't remember. I was told to take him because they shoot stray cats on the farm where I live because they rent some of their land to an organic chicken farm. How anyone could shoot a kitten is beyond me and I became furious and told the farm manager that he was to bring any stray cats to me and I would take them to the SPCA. I threatened to lay charges and go to our local newspaper. I think he found that more funny than threatening but obviously I must of made an impression because he started to feed Milo's mother and her remaining kittens. As far as I know they are still hanging out at his house but they are feral and he plans to take them to the SPCA once he has tamed them.

We have also seen a cat that we are sure is Milo's father- he has exactly the same colouring. This cat has to be one of the most enormous cats I have ever seen. Comparing Milo with his siblings, he was almost twice their size. So this is going to be one BIG kitty that we'll have on our hands.

It's only once I looked at the photo's I have been taking of him over these past months that I realise now how much he has grown. When he started out his ears looked to big for his face. He is now going through what I hope is just a phase of being really aggressive- attacking people's  feet with no warning. It feels like we are disciplining a two year old.

Anyway, despite his stubbornness and tough-boy persona, I have really grown to love this silly kitty and I hope and pray he will be with us for many years to come. I have posted a whole big bunch of pics of Milo from when I first found him to how he is today.

Hours after I found him- a very scruffy and flea-bitten kitty (not a very flattering picture of my nose!)

He liked to cuddle and go to sleep when in the car

Keeping the kitty in the mirror company

He is alseep here! He fell asleep while licking his butt!!

Loves his favorite toy- a teddy I've had since I was born.

This may look cute but he attacked me seconds after this was taken.

Bedtime

Chewing on my nose

Back from the hospital and very scrawny and skinny, he's made up for it though!

Cats seem to be very specific on how they drink water

Lazy ass

"By standing in front of the computer screen, I'm sure I'll helping Mom study!"

Why are cats so weird?

"I love making a mess and watching Mom clean up YEAH!"

I'm I the only that finds it a little freaky that he insists on watching me bath?

"I've discovered the roof"

"Now if only I can discover how to get down!"

The mystery of the missing kitty....

Late at night and all is not what it seems....

The appears to be a strange lump under my duvet...and it's moving!

Suddenly a furry face pops out

Mystery solved!!

My kitty is actually a BOY (I don't know much about kittens okay!) and I have named him.....

Milo

:) :) We took him to the animal welfare on Wednesday so he could have his shots. It is ridiculously expensive in South Africa to vaccinate an animal and we figured that maybe they could give us a break. Well, they were actually really pissy with us for bringing him there because they only vaccinate the animals of the disadvantaged for a hugely reduced fee. And as the lady pointed out to us "You don't exactly look disadvantaged" and she was right but my Mom didn't take very kindly to her bitchiness. She told her that things weren't always what they seemed and she announced that I lived with her, I was unemployed, I had been ill over the last four years and I had no money. Yeah....that made me feel like shite. In the end they agreed to vaccinate Milo and de- worm him. Unfortunately there was no vet there to check him out.

Milo is a bundle of energy. He reminds me of one of those wind up toys that just keep on going and going except he never stops. He will play with anything, even his own tail will keep him amused for hours. He has used his litter box from the very beginning and will climb two flights of stairs to take a nap in his basket in my room. We have had him for just 10 days but the change in him his huge and he grown immensely. He his very cuddlable but doesn't stay still for 2 seconds to let you cuddle him. I am actually not getting a whole lot of sleep at the moment because when it's time to go to bed he thinks it's time to play and he starts chewing on my hair and toes. Then he'll wake me up with a paw slap on the cheek at 6am to get his breakfast.

Anyway we are enjoying him. He has provided us with loads of laughs and lots of fun. You'll never get bored with a kitten around!

More pics ( hopefully one day I will get a camera other than my Blackberry...sorry for the crappy quality)



Spot the kitty....again. He gives us heart attacks when he climbs trees especially when he gets to the very thin top branches, but he always gets himself down.

An unusual place to sleep....

Fast asleep with his favorite toy :)



I can walk around with him perched on my shoulder like a parrot



They're here! Welcome to rabbitland

I was finally able to bring my babies home today:



I've named this one Cornflower- I used to read Brian Jacques when I was younger and one of the characters was a mouse named Cornflower and I always liked it.


I haven't given this one a name yet I'm going to get to know her personality first- were going to get another one and discovered it was a boy. Since we wanted to avoid the boy/ girl pairing ( for obivious reasons) we decided to go with this one because apparently she is a girl- let's hope she stays that way.







I had a picture of them in a pot but I thought that would be to mean to post. My Dad scared the shit out of the lady that we got them from, asking her if she thought they would braai (barbaque) well. They were so small at the time her husband suggested we make put them on skewers to make kebabs. He and my Dad seem to get along well. Creepy.

Anyway I left my little fluffy bundles cleaning and cuddling each other in their box. Now I have the joyous task of potty- training them. Luckily they are very clean animals and are easier to train then dogs.

I have been reading some articles on Pet therapy (or Animal therapy) I would like to do a post on it once I have more information. Pet therapy is considered to be one of the main alternative therapies for depression. Animals are regconised as a postive force in the healing process. Physical contact helps distract a person from their daily troubles. Caring for a pet can bring about a sense of accomplishment and give a person new meaning to his/ her life. And of course the great love between most pets and their owners is a lifesaver.

Dogs are most commonly used in Pet therapy, but I made the decision that since I plan to travel back overseas after I graduate it wouldn't be fair on the dog to let it get to attached and it will be heartbreaking for me. Cats and rabbits are more independent. We are still planning on getting a kitten once we find one.

I can definately say that after spending some time cuddling my rabbits I did feel a lot happier, like I gained two new friends :).